May 12 – Bhagavadgita Chapter 6; Verses 6.18-6.19 (Day 133) Adhyatma Yoga, Yoga of Meditation

 Lesson 6.4 (Verses 18-32)

The Perfect Yogi

May 12 – Day 133

Verse 6.18-6.19 

यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येवावतिष्ठते ।

निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यो युक्त इत्युच्यते तदा ॥ ६-१८॥ 

yadā viniyataṁ chittam ātmanyevāvatiṣhṭhate
niḥspṛihaḥ sarva-kāmebhyo yukta ityuchyate tadā (18) 

யதா³ வினியத¹ம் சி¹த்¹த¹மாத்¹மன்யேவாவதி¹ஷ்ட²தே¹ |
நி:ஸ்ப்¹ருஹ: ஸர்வகா¹மேப்⁴யோ யுக்¹த இத்¹யுச்¹யதே¹ த¹தா³ ||18|| 

18. When the perfectly controlled mind rests in the Self only, free from longing for the objects of desire, then it is said: “He is united.” 

Commentary: Perfectly controlled mind: The mind with one-pointedness.

When all desires for the objects ofpleasure seen or unseen die, the mind becomes very peaceful and rests steadily in the Supreme Self withi.  As the Yogi is perfectly harmonised, as he has attained to oneness with the Self and as he has become identical with Brahman, sense phenomena and bodily affections do not disturb him.  He is conscious of his immortal, imperishable and invincible nature.

Yukta means ‘united’ (with the Self) or harmonised or balanced.  Without union with the Self neither harmony nor balance nor Samadhi is possible. (Cf. V.23; VI.8) 

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता ।

योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः ॥ ६-१९॥ 

yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛitā
yogino yata-chittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ (19) 

யதா² தீ³போ¹ நிவாத¹ஸ்தோ² நேங்க³தே¹ ஸோப¹மா ஸ்ம்ருதா¹ |
யோகி³னோ யத¹சி¹த்¹த¹ஸ்ய யுந்ஜதோ¹ யோக³மாத்¹மன: ||19|| 

19. As a lamp placed in a windless spot does not flicker—to such is compared the Yogi of controlled mind, practising Yoga in the Self (or absorbed in the Yoga of the Self). 

Commentary: This is a beautiful simile which Yogins often quote this simile very often when they talk of concentration or steadiness or one-pointedness of mind. A steady mind will serve as a powerful searchlight to find out the hidden spiritual treasures of the Self. 

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda: 

Again and again, Kṛṣṇa reminds us that control of mind and yoga imply non-attachment which itself does not mean vain, foolish and egoistic hatred of, or ‘running away from’ anything in this world, nor deluded cruelty inflicted on one’s own body. Non-attachment is an intelligent understanding of the real nature of the soul as the ‘image of God’, and the body, mind and ego as the external nature of God. The body, mind and ego provide an abode for the individualised self to dwell in, become perfect and thus witness the reality of God.

The body exists, even as the house exists. It comes into contact with various objects of this world, even as the house comes into contact with wind, rain and sunshine. From these contacts the mind is continually learning its lessons in this vast school of the world. However, ignorance attributes pleasure and pain to the objects and experiences, and consequently reacts with attachment and aversion. These are the factors that keep the individual soul in bondage. They constantly disturb the inner equilibrium, being themselves the fruits of inner disharmony. If the mind is not at peace, life is a nightmare, a string of endless trials.

The yogi’s mind, on the other hand, is like a lamp in a windless spot, burning calmly and steadily, illuminating all that surrounds it. This is one of the reasons why the seeker has a lamp (or candle) burning at the altar always – to remind him of the ideal he is striving for. It should never be forgotten that this inner harmony should prevail at all times, not only during meditation. The lamp in a windless place is not inert but it is unimaginably intense activity called combustion. Similarly, the yogi’s steady mind is not dull. It is the home of blossoming insight. In that insight life flows on uninterruptedly, blissfully, in strict accordance with God’s will. 

-*-